At a special sitting of the Commons today after MPs voted 322 to 306 to halt the approval of the Johnson’s Brexit deal until all the necessary legislation is in place.

Boris Johnson has vowed to get the UK out of the EU by October 31 despite today’s crushing defeat (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)

The amendment tabled by former Cabinet minister Sir Oliver Letwin was intended to force him to comply with the so-called Benn Act, passed last month.

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It makes a no-deal Brexit illegal and binds him by law to ask for an extension to January 31 if he could not get a deal through Parliament by 11pm tonight.

But after this afternoon’s humiliating blow, Johnson said: ‘I continue in the very strong belief that the best thing for the UK, and for the whole of Europe is for us to leave with this new deal on October 31.

‘And to anticipate the questions that are coming from the benches opposite, I will not negotiate a delay with the EU. Neither does the law compel me to do so.’